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Universalising International Law

C.G. Weeramantry

Universalising international law is one of the most urgent tasks awaiting those who wish to advance the discipline. Though all the world acknowledges its universal nature, it has long been confined in a largely monocultural mould. Indeed a tendency is sometimes discernible for international law to be compartmentalised and to function within a close cabinet of technical rules little known to those outside the ranks of specialists.
This volume looks initially at some general aspects of universalisation. It thereafter adopts a universalist approach to some of the sources of international law and it deals with peace, the bedrock of international law, which likewise requires a universalist approach.
It is hoped that these studies will highlight the imperative need that now exists for extending the conceptual framework of international law, thereby buttressing its moral authority and widening its appeal at a time when universal acceptance of international law is one of the most pressing demands of the international system.

Reviews

'His new book brings together many of his lectures and judgments, along with some fresh material, all of it synthesized through his principle of “universalisation”. In many ways, this book is an older scholar’s effort to inspire beginning scholars and practitioners to capture the field for the values that he has espoused throughout a life in the law. […] Like much else in this collection, Weeramantry’s comments on the ethics of international lawyers in government service provide food for thought.'
Roger S. Clark, American Journal of International Law, 2005.
'Universalising International Law is a thought-provoking contribution to the debate about international law in the post-September 11 world. While United States President George W. Bush has attempted to monopolise international law to justify the ‘war on terror’, Christopher Weermantry argues that a system of law that remains mono-cultural has no claim to being either international or effective. […] The essays brim with the enthusiasm of an author who knows he is addressing a varied international audience, including Prime Ministers, educators, students, judges and members of the public. The main argument is coherently developed, demonstrating Weeramantry’s consistency and dedication to his cause over many years.’
John Strawson, Melbourne Journal of International Law, 2004.

Table of contents

Preface, Part A: General Perspectives,
Chapter 1 : Cultural and Ideological Pluralism in Public International Law,
Chapter 2 : Making International Law Matter,
Chapter 3 : International Lawyers: A Vision for the New Century,
Chapter 4 : Emerging Dimensions of Sovereignty in International Law,
Chapter 5 : International Law and the Global Marketplace,
Chapter 6 : Private International Law and Public International Law: The Increasing Linkage,
Chapter 7 : Widening the Conceptual Framework, Part B: Sources of International Law,
Chapter 8 : Custom: The Growing Role of Customary International Law ,
Chapter 9 : General Principles of Law: Equity in a Global Context,
Chapter 10 : Treaties: Humanitarian Treaties and State Succession, Part C: International Law and Universal Peace,
Chapter 11 : Philosophical Perspectives on Peace,
Chapter 12 : Religious Perspectives on Peace,
Chapter 13 : Practical Steps towards Education for Peace,
Chapter 14 : International Law as an Instrument of Peace, Part D: Specific Fields,
Chapter 15 : Sustainable Development Law,
Chapter 16 : Environmental Law,
Chapter 17 : Nuclear Weapons Law , a) Illegality of Use, b) Illegality of Manufacture, Index.

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